“He offered me a job, but I’m not sure,” he responded, worrying his lip. “I don’t want him to feel like he never gets a break from me, and now there’s this thing with you.”
“Whatever happens or doesn’t between us shouldn’t impact whether you take the job,” I told him. “No matter what we do, I have faith both of us can remain professional at work. And you’ll barely even see me, if that helps. I work the door, which means I’m on The Lodge side far more than inside The Back Deck.”
“Is that what it used to be called?” As much as I hated it, Maverick backed away from me to grab a pair of hideous fuzzy slippers. I’d never tell him, but they looked like they could have been made from Muppet hair. But, somehow, he made them look cute when he slipped his feet into them.
“Yeah. It’s going to take a while for me to get used to the new name,” I admitted. “You’ll soon realize change isn’t something that comes easily for me.”
“I’ve heard that can be a problem with old guys,” Maverick teased.
Without missing a beat, I popped him on the backside. “You better watch who you’re calling old.”
“I was just teasing…” It felt like he’d wanted to add something to the end of that statement, but he stopped himself. His cheeks flushed, and he draped his arms over my shoulders, standing on his tiptoes so he could press his lips to mine. I froze, unsure what to do, internally freaking out that he expected me to deepen the kiss.
That would happen, but I needed time to wrap my head around the fact that I was really doing this. I wasn’t going to let fear—or what everyone in my life might think of me—hold me back. I was too damned old for those games.
Maverick didn’t push me further than I was ready for. He pressed his lips to both corners of my mouth, then leaned back. “Was that okay?”
“It was perfect,” I sighed. “If I’m not careful, you’re going to break me.”
“We wouldn’t want that.” Maverick giggled, and I pinched his side, silently warning him to not make another age crack.
While I wasn’t completely hung up on it, there was no denying that he was much younger than me. I didn’t need people accusing me of robbing the cradle on top of everything else.
My phone chirped with the tone I’d set for messages from my brother. I stepped back, and instantly I felt the loss. “I have to get that. Sorry, sweetheart.”
“No worries.” While I reached for my phone, Maverick sat down in front of the mirror and started applying some sort of cream to his face. Before we’d gotten him ready for bed last night, I’d worried I wouldn’t feel the same draw to him clean faced as I did when he was made up. My fears proved unfounded because my dick was still hard enough to pound nails. “Don’t let me make you late, John. I’ll give you my number before you leave, and we can make plans when you’re ready.”
Oh no, that wasn’t going to do at all. I might not be well-versed in being with men, but I knew that tone. He sounded resigned, as if he was still struggling to believe I would call him, that last night wasn’t a one-time thing. How could it be when the most we’d done was hold one another as we slept?
I walked up behind him as I typed out a reply, letting Stephen know I’d be home shortly, then pocketed my phone, and rested my hands on his shoulders. I looked directly into Maverick’s eyes through our reflections in the mirror. Somehow, it was easier this way.
“You need to have a little faith in me, princess,” I pleaded. “I know last night and this morning didn’t go the way either of us thought they would, but this isn’t the end. It’s not even the beginning.”
I kissed the top of his head and felt him relax.
“You’ve got me so twisted around, I don’t know which way is up,” I admitted. “But I’m not running. You’re going to give me your number, and I’m going to text you later today to make sure you’ve talked to Sam about a job. You’d be a fool to say no to working there. The tips are amazing, the bosses are laid-back, and you’ll have me to make sure no one gives you a hard time.”
The biggest challenge for me was going to be letting him work the crowds the way I figured he could without the jealousy beast rearing its ugly head.
Maverick placed his hands over mine and twisted around in his seat. “Thank you.”
I handed him my phone and he sent himself a message, so we’d have each other’s numbers. My brother texted again, so I hastily excused myself, bypassing the kitchen. I’d apologize to Theron the next time I saw him, which hopefully wouldn’t be in the too distant future.
* * *
I grabbedmy phone out of the console when I got back to the property. It had only been twenty minutes, but I already missed Maverick and wished I’d taken a picture of him to remind myself that he was real.
I had to laugh when I read the message he’d sent to himself.This is the only person allowed to call you Princess. He’s a keeper. Don’t screw this up.
That was good advice, and I needed to remember it, too. I tapped out a quick message to tell him I’d made it home and was thinking about him. I hoped he’d tell me if I was going overboard, because it felt important that I remind him I wasn’t going anywhere.
Before he could answer, Stephen stormed out of the clubhouse, a black garbage bag hefted over both shoulders. “Where in the hell did you disappear to last night?”
“I told you I had plans,” I responded as we passed in the yard. I didn’t wait for him. Whatever had gone on while I’d been out last night had him in an extra pissy mood, and I didn’t have the patience to deal with his bullshit today.
“Yeah, well, I told you we were expecting company last night,” he hollered across the yard. “I wouldn’t have asked you to work the door if I didn’t think I needed you.”
That was bullshit and we both knew it. One of the upsides of working at a club in town was Ialwaysworked weekends. Before, he’d had no problem asking me to “help out” at the clubhouse.
